Children reverse trick-or-treat

While many local children likely will be trick-or-treating this evening, students at Xavier Catholic Preschool have been reverse trick-or-treating.

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By John Richmeier

The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

By John Richmeier

Posted Oct. 31, 2013 at 9:30 AM

By John Richmeier

Posted Oct. 31, 2013 at 9:30 AM

While many local children likely will be trick-or-treating this evening, students at Xavier Catholic Preschool have been reverse trick-or-treating.

Children have been bringing donated food items for the Catholic Charities food pantry in Leavenworth.

One group of students made their donations Wednesday morning while dressed in Halloween costumes. The group also performed songs for visiting parents.

Additional groups were scheduled to make donations this morning and afternoon, according to Xavier teacher Shannon Holcomb.

"I think young children need a real concrete example of how they can help," Holcomb said.

She said simply talking about how they can help isn't enough.

Holcomb said about 115 children, ages 3-5, attend the preschool, which is located at at 1409 Second Ave.

Holcomb said the school does the reverse trick-or-treating each year. It started around five years ago and donations have been turned over to various charities. This year, Catholic Charities was chosen.

She said food is being distributed on a more frequent basis, every 30 days instead of 60 days.

"Our numbers are way up right now," she said.

And with children having been home during the summer, the pantry's shelves were pretty much bare when the school year began. Walton said a lot of people in Leavenworth have stepped up to help.

"It's really helping us to get back to where we need to be," she said.

Holcomb said the preschool children typically go outdoors for a short parade in their Halloween costumes during their reverse trick-or-treating activities. But the weather kept the activities inside Wednesday morning.

Holcomb said information about other ways children can help were sent home to parents. Ideas included giving away unused clothing.